Psychoeducation for Caregivers of Individuals With Borderline Personality Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Multiple Family Group Therapy

TL;DR

This study shows that a psychoeducational group therapy program for caregivers of people with borderline personality disorder improves their social functioning and coping skills.

Contribution

The first randomized controlled trial comparing multiple family group therapy with treatment as usual for BPD caregivers.

Findings

MFG therapy improved social functioning, perceived support, and coping skills in caregivers compared to TAU.

Participants in MFG showed greater improvements in communication and service satisfaction over time.

MFG therapy is feasible and clinically relevant for integration into mental health services.

Abstract

Multiple family group (MFG) therapy is a psychoeducational intervention designed for caregivers of individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD). This study is the first to compare MFG therapy with treatment as usual (TAU). The objectives were to assess MFG therapy's impact on caregivers' social functioning, perceived support from mental health professionals, coping and communication skills development, and overall satisfaction with the program. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted at the West Community Mental Health Center in Bologna, Italy. This study enrolled 57 caregivers of 48 adult patients diagnosed with BPD. Participants were randomly assigned to the MFG or TAU intervention. Psychometric assessments were conducted at baseline (T0) and 6 months (T1). Between‐group differences in improvements were analyzed using independent sample t‐tests and linear mixed model (LMM) analyses to account for unequal group sizes and missing data. Compared to the TAU group, caregivers completing the MFG program reported significant improvements at T1 in social functioning, perceived support from mental health professionals, and family coping skills, including improved access to information and a marked reduction in avoidance behaviors. LMM analysis showed that MFG participants improved more over time in social support, communication, and service satisfaction than controls. This study highlights that MFG therapy has strong potential for improving social functioning and coping skills among caregivers of individuals with BPD. These findings support the feasibility and clinical relevance of integrating MFG programs into generalist mental health services.

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